Slipknot and Korn salute each other

Guitarists recall hearing counterparts' work for first time

Slipknot guitarists Mick Thomson and Jim Root have praised the work of their Korn counterparts – while James 'Munky' Shaffer and Brian 'Head' Welch have returned the favour.

The bands toured together earlier this year, continuing a close relationship that's developed over the years.

In a four-way conversation with MusicRadar Thomson tells Shaffer and Welch: "One thing that I think is a huge credit to you guys is that the heaviest shit isn't necessarily the simplest, but it's not verbose. You don't need loads of notes to be heavy. So you guys would come out and play just a few notes, but crushingly heavy.

"Clown and Paul Gray used to have you guys louder than fuck in any car all the time. That's how I got to know you. Just single strings, heavy as shit. That's kind of like the Sabbath way."

Munky recalls being given Slipknot's 1999 debut album by producer Ross Robinson. He says: "Ross was like, 'You've got to check this out.' I had this 4x4 Suburban, and I'd just put a new stereo in it, and I cranked it up and couldn't turn it up loud enough.

"You could just feel the anger coming out of the speakers. I called Ross up and said, 'Holy shit – you outdid yourself on this one.' It was like his masterpiece."